आ पहुंचे

देख तेरी बंदगी में हम किस मकाम आ पहुंचे
है जहां न इब्तेदा न अंजाम आ पहुंचे

साकी तू मय की धार रखियो कुछ तेज़-तेज़
यूँ न हो मस्ती से पेहले ही इमाम आ पहुंचे

मत पूछो हमसे यारों इश्क पर रोज़गार के सितम
अभी गले मिले भी न थे के ढेरों काम आ पहुंचे

थी खबर कल शब् के वोह निकले हैं सैर को
सुना इतना और मर्द शेहर के तमाम आ पहुंचे

सोता भी हूँ तोह चश्म-ओ-गोश खोले हुए सिफर
उम्मीद ये के बेवक्त उनका पैगाम आ पहुंचे

दिखाई देते हैं 

आज कुछ क़यामत के आसार दिखाई देते हैं 

वोह फिर बा-गाजा-ए-रुखसार दिखाई देते हैं 

सुना तोह था हमने के नाराज़ हैं नासेह 

मगर ये क्या के क़त्ल को तैयार दिखाई देते हैं?

उन निगाहों का जादू है या मौसम का तकाज़ा?

हिलते हुए दिल के दर-ओ-दीवार दिखाई देते हैं 

मत पूछो यारों हमसे शहर-ए-अमीरान की रस्में 

मिलते हैं गले तोह हाथों में हथियार दिखाई देते हैं 

हो फकीर-ए-सर-ए-राह या मालिक-ए-तख़्त-ओ-ताज 

हमें तोह सिफर सब उसके कर्ज़दार दिखाई देते हैं

Appear

Today, the foretold day of doom it does appear
Once again, with rouge on her cheeks she does appear

Yes, I too, had heard that the preachers were displeased
But, what is this that intent on murder they do appear?

Is it those intoxicating glances, or the magic of the Monsoon?
Shaken to the core the heart's walls and door do appear

Oh, do not ask me friends, of the ways of the city of the rich
Even as they embrace, in their hands, weapons do appear

Be it the mendicant on the street, or the owner of throne and crown
To me, Sifar, each one His debtor does appear

Hear, Hear!

Upon hearing my poem last evening, they did utter “hear, hear!”
But, on the street today, how they did demur – hear, hear!

As descends the wine, tinkling, into the glass
Into this desolate heart-chamber would she descend – hear, hear!

To all appearances, she has no interest in me – and yet
For the evening’s tryst, how she would prepare – hear, hear!

I gave my life once in the ecstasy of love – what of it?
Regret, for fear of scandal how she dies daily – hear, hear!

As blows the breeze, fragrant over the flowerbeds come dawn
So through the garden of my thoughts, she would flow – hear, hear!

Although the lovers of the secret of Life are many, dear Sifar
The face of the Truth so frightens them – hear, hear!

A Guest Was

Into the cold, dark heart of night descended Dawn's warm dagger
And the sky, in every direction as it was, blood-splattered was

Although a hundred thousand bubbles of sorrow welled up within the heart
Life was escaping through my lips – the reason I silent was


The Sun itself, lord of the skies, uttered not a word
But, on the lips of the breeze and the cheeks of the rose, its story was


What we endured on the path of faith, is evident on the face
Seeing my reflection in the river, I too, astounded was


A few days Sifar resided here, wrote a bit, went on his way
That is the sum and substance of his tale – he just a guest was